Johnson: ‘This is not the time to talk about my future’

Former World Cup-winning captain is to ‘honestly assess’ his position as England’s head coach over the coming days

Jonny Wilkinson reflects on what may be his last World Cup appearance (David Rogers)

England’s under-fire manager Martin Johnson refused to say whether he will stay in the job.

Having presided over England’s worst World Cup showing since they went out in the quarter-finals in 1999, Johnson said: “I am not getting into that conversation now. It’s not the right place or the right time. I will give it a couple of days and honestly assess myself and how we have been.”

His current deal with the Rugby Football Union runs out at the end of December. As the 2003 World Cup-winning captain, Johnson has been seen as bulletproof, although his record of 21 wins from 38 matches is not hugely impressive.

Francois Pienaar, who captained South Africa to World Cup glory in 1995, criticised England’s “lack of fighting spirit”.

“There are question marks surrounding the leadership. England’s leadership on the field has been lacking for me, really lacking,” he said.